Boston attractions

Travel back to the time of the Plymouth Colony settlers with a visit to this reconstruction of the historic Plimoth Grist Mill, which was originally built in 1636, set along the Town Brook stream in Plymouth, Massachusetts. This working mill still operates today, offering visitors a hands-on history lesson. See the 200-year-old millstones and learn how water diverted from the brook powers the mill.

Copley Place is the premier high-end shopping destination in Boston’s historic Back Bay. With over 50 shops spread across two levels, the impressive mall also features dining options, as well as convenient access to office buildings and two hotels. The mall has many luxury brands stores Stores that attracts locals and visitors alike.

From its first-rate beginning as a statesman's mansion to its humble years as a boarding house, Otis House captures the history of Boston within its 18th-century walls. As the last of the great mansions in Bowdoin Square, you can uncover Federalist history on a guided tour of this carefully-restored home, a National Historic Landmark.

Old Sturbridge Village is an outdoor living-history museum in central Massachusetts that showcases rural New England life in the 1830s. With antique buildings, working farms, and exhibitions across rolling grounds, the village is brought to life by costumed interpreters and artisans, providing an immersive journey back in time.

Stretched across the mouth of Massachusetts Bay east of Boston, the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary is an Atlantic Ocean reserve designed to protect the area’s rich marine environment. Created in 1992, the sanctuary is visited by migrating wild whales and other sea life, and draws numerous whale-watching boat trips from Boston.

The Samuel Adams Boston Brewery is where the popular company’s beers are invented. Visit the small-batch brewery and tap room to try a variety of ales, lagers, and seasonal brews and to learn about the company’s history and its brewing process.

The Gibson House Museum, located in the heart of Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood, is home to four floors of furniture, artifacts, and decor that date back to the 1800s. Explore this popular attraction on guided tours that detail the life and times of the elite Gibson family to learn how early aristocratic Americans lived.

Built in 1919, Vilna Shul served as an Orthodox synagogue for Jews who immigrated to Boston from Lithuania. Now used as an inclusive community center, Vilna Shul, Boston's Center for Jewish Culture, is widely recognized as the city’s most iconic Jewish landmark, as it is one of the only remaining synagogues in the city’s downtown that immigrants built.

Founded in 1986, the Harpoon Brewery and Beer Hall is Massachusetts’ oldest established brewery and produces craft beers and a famous Harpoon Pale India Ale (IPA) in the trendy Seaport District. An adjoining beer hall hosts visitors guzzling brews in a buzzy, industrial-inspired setting and offers tours of the brewery operations.

Centuries-old Burial Hill in Plymouth dates back to the 1620s, when it was part of the original village erected here by the Pilgrims. Visitors can stroll tree-lined pathways to admire some of the oldest gravestones in the United States, see resting places of statesmen and Mayflower passengers, and enjoy hilltop views of Plymouth Harbor.

The cornerstone of Concord’s historic attractions, The Old Manse was the town’s political and social center throughout the 19th century, in addition to serving as a home for literary greats. Preserved as a National Historic Landmark, the structure was originally built in 1770 for Rev. William Emerson, and stands adjacent to Concord’s Old North Bridge, where the American Revolutionary War started in 1775.

Perched on the top floors of Prudential Tower, View Boston is the only observation deck in the city, offering 360-degree, panoramic views of the surrounding skyline. Visitors can take in the sights from indoor and outdoor areas and marvel at the immersive screen that displays street-level perspectives of neighborhoods and behind-the-scenes shots of popular attractions. An open-air deck also serves up cocktails and small bites.

As one of the largest outdoor outlet shopping destinations in New England, Wrentham Village Premium Outlets® offers dozens of top fashion brands. From couture to kidswear, this place is a shopping mecca. It's a top destination from Providence and Boston, and discounts are typically steep—you can often save up to 65 percent off retail prices.

Standing on the waterfront in Boston’s Seaport District, the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA showcases challenging modern US and international art. Alongside its permanent collection, this cutting-edge glass gallery also hosts changing shows and themed exhibitions, all complemented by stellar views of Boston Harbor.

Boylston Street runs west to east from Higginson Circle to the Boylston Light Rail Station near Chinatown in Boston. Stretching for approximately 2 miles (3.2 kilometers), Boylston Street is a main road in the city, connecting Downtown with Fenway, and is a famous street for upscale dining and shopping in Back Bay’s neighborhood.

The LEGO® Discovery Center Boston turns the popular building blocks into a life-size playground. Perfect for families with young children, the themed destination is dedicated to the colorful blocks and features rides, attractions, and hands-on experiences including the chance to build a LEGO® car or a spaceship. There's also the DUPLO® park, which was developed specifically for visitors under the age of 5.

Covering 43 miles (69 kilometers) of Boston’s 47-mile (75-kilometer) shoreline, the Boston Harborwalk is a linear park and pathway that skirts the Boston Harbor and connects dozens of neighborhoods, beaches, trails, and parks. Take in city and harbor views, visit museums, and discover restaurants and shops as you walk or cycle this innovative waterfront space.

Boston’s Cheers Beacon Hill (formerly the Bull & Finch Pub) is a mandatory pilgrimage for fans of the popular television showCheers, which was inspired by this authentic neighborhood watering hole. Although the bar’s interior differs from its famous TV alter ego, you’ll find the same friendly atmosphere, good pub grub, and frothy pints of beer.

Gain a new perspective on world geography at the Mapparium, the centerpiece of the How Do You See the World? experience at Boston’s Christian Science Plaza. Situated inside the Mary Baker Eddy Library, this 3-story stained-glass globe from 1935 features a footbridge that spans its hollow interior, allowing visitors to admire the pre–World War II world from the inside out. A 10-minute narration and exhibition of related artifacts and documents complete the experience.

A part of Boston's maritime story, the Rowes Wharf development updated an historic battery, which was renovated in the 1980s. The renewed expanse of downtown waterfront boasts hotels, shops, and eateries with Boston Harbor views. There's easy ferry access, and several sailboat tours start here; it's an ideal jumping-off point for a cruise.

Overlooking the sea in Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood, the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum documents the life and legacy of President Kennedy. The building holds official presidential documents and correspondence, a wealth of multimedia exhibits and artifacts, and literary gems such as some unpublished writings of Ernest Hemingway.

Part theme park, part water park, and known for offering a top selection of roller coasters, Six Flags New England is a mostly seasonal attraction serving thrill seekers and families alike. This entertainment hub buzzes all summer. Steamy weather brings crowds from across the northeast hungry for water slides, tasty food, and summer fun.

Acorn Street, in Boston’s historic Beacon Hill neighborhood, is known as one of the most photographed streets in the US. This cobblestone lane, lined with Federal-style row houses and gas lanterns, transports you back in time. Tourists visit for its beauty, rich history, and New England charm, making it a favorite spot for leisurely strolls and picture taking.

Just outside of Boston travelers can trade frenetic city energy for calm wilderness at Willard Brook State Forest. Find 2,500-acres (1,011-hectares of streams, trails, and greenery at this year-round outdoor destination. Hiking, fishing, and cross-country skiing are popular here, and the fall foliage brings leaf peepers from all around.

Enjoy IMAX films about the natural world on New England’s largest screen, with 12,000 watts of digital sound, at Simons IMAX Theatre at the New England Aquarium. Put yourself in the heart of the action, and come face to face with creatures and habitats that are too small, too large, or too endangered to view in an aquarium.

Rising 54 feet (16 meters) above Boston’s Freedom Trail, the New England Holocaust Memorial is a striking tribute to the estimated 6 million Jews who died during the Holocaust. Its glass-and-steel towers etched with numbers and illuminated from within are the city’s most important commemoration of one of the darkest periods in modern history.

A National Historic Landmark, Boston’s African Meeting House is the oldest surviving Black church building in the United States. Built in 1806 by free African-American craftsmen, the building was an important cultural, educational, and political site for Boston’s Black community, as well as the location of many early antislavery meetings.

Named for one of New England's most influential 19th-century residents, the Mary Baker Eddy Library is a library and museum housed a neoclassical building in Boston's beautiful Back Bay area. The top draw for visitors is typically Mapparium—a multi-story stained-glass globe depicting the world in 1935—which is featured on guided tours.

Formally known as the Raymond L. Flynn Black Falcon Cruise Terminal, Flynn Cruiseport Boston is one of Boston’s busiest waterfront hubs. Located in South Boston, the port serves major cruise ships and is most active from late March through late October. Upwards of 300,000 visitors pass through the port annually.